Maximum amount

For a candidate, the Election Act stipulates that expenses are limited to a maximum amount per elector for the electoral division in which the candidate is running. In the case of a party, election expenses are limited to a maximum amount per elector in all of the electoral divisions in which this party has an official candidate.

Annual indexing

The limit on election expenses is indexed on April 1st of each year according to the variation in the Average Consumer Price Index (CPI) established by Statistics Canada.

During an election period

It should be noted that during by-elections the official agent of an authorized political party cannot incur election expenses. Consequently, the limit on the election expenses of a candidate in an electoral division is increased in order to take into account the limit that would normally have been attributed to the party.

Limits per elector

Limits on election expenses per elector in general elections

April 1, 2017 to
March 31, 2018

April 1, 2018 to
March 31, 2019

Political party

$0.68

$0.69

Candidate (basic limit)

$0.74

$0.75

Candidates in the electoral divisions of Duplessis, Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue, René-Lévesque and Ungava

$0.94($0.74 + $0.20)

$0.95($0.75 + $0.20)

Candidates in the electoral division of Îles-de-la-Madeleine

$1.65($0.74 + $0.91)

$1.67($0.75 + $0.92)

Limits on election expenses per elector during a by-election

April 1, 2017, to
March 31, 2018

April 1, 2018, to
March 31, 2019

Candidate (basic limit)

$1.42($0.68 + $ 0.74)

$1.44($0.69 + $0.75)

Candidates in the electoral divisions of Duplessis, Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue, René-Lévesque and Ungava